Stud and rafter



Sept. 7, 1937. A. RAFTR 2,092,472

STUD AND RAFTER Filed Dec. 4, 1936 INVENTS) f- ATTORNEY Patented Sept.7, 1937 PATENT'o-mcE-- a s'rUD AND RAFTER s Albert Rafter, Glen llRidge,N. J., assignor to,`

. Ratten'` Machine Company, Belleville, N. J., a partnership composed ofAlbert Rafter vand John C. Rafter; Jr.

6 Claims.

This invention relates to` improvements in metallic beams, studs,rafters and the like for use in buildings.

Heretofore, metal beams used in building construction have generallybeen of the I beam type,

which have been found objectionable due'toits Weight, lack of resistanceto turning forces, and cost due to the amount of metal used therein. Ithas also been found necessary in many instances to reenfrce flanges of Ibeams by means of metal strips engaging the upper and lower flangesparallel to the web.

VIt isano'bject of my invention to provide' structural members`forvbuildinglconstruction which have all the advantages of an I beamand none of the disadvantages thereof.

In accordance with my invention, the structural member is formed fromsheet metal and is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures alongthe longitudinal center line thereof, thus presenting a considerablesaving in metal and Weight at places where` the metal serves no purpose.

A further object is the provision of a structural member which can beformed from a single sheet of metal by means of suitable dies.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a metal beam forbuilding construction which can be advantageously substituted for theusual wooden beams and rafters at present employed. The beamshereindisclosed are adapted as supports for flooring, ceilings androofs, and for all other purposes where wooden beams have heretoforebeen used.

These and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, areaccomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement ofparts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawing,forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section of one side of astructural member :embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective, partly in section, of the other side of themember, and

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the structural member.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a modified form ofthe invention.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 a member is shown to comprise asingle sheet of metal which is bent to' form a plate I having aplurality of spaced apertures 2 along the longitudinal center linethereof, Ieach of said apertures being surrounded by anfinwardlydirected flange 3 ,I Application December 4, 1936, serial No. 114,151

which flange has a right angularly directed portion 4.

The platefis bent outwardly at 5 `and then up at 6, and then back uponitself: at 1 `which is then bent down `atproviding a`l side parallel tothe portion 6. The side 8 is then bent inwardly at 9 and thendownwardly, providing a ange I I) abutting the flange 4, the flange IDextending the length of the beam.

The flanges 4 `and I0 are then rigidly secured together by means ofwelding or similar expedients,'a`t the portions I I as shown in Figi 3.

From the above` description it will be seen that there ha'sbeenfprovideda. simple and effective structural :member for building constructionwhich is lightin weight, and relatively inexpenvsive when compared `withconventional I-beam structures or other structural building membersheretofore employed. The provision of apertures along the longitudinalcenter line of a beam ob` viously eliminates the metal which serves nopurpose. It will be noted that the walls I and Ill are spaced exceptwhere the flange 4 engages the portion III. This structure resiststorsional strains and no reenforcements are needed for the portions 5and 9. In order that the beam will satisfactorily receive nails, a stripof wood II is inserted in the hollow portion of the beam producingcover 1. y

In Fig. 4 is shown a modified form of the invention in which the portion5 shown in Fig. l is bent back upon itself providing a top 3U, thevertical portion 6 shown in Fig. 1 being eliminated. The top 1 is thenbent back upon itself to provide a portion 9, thus eliminating thevertical portion 8 shown in Fig. 1.

The bottom of the beam is formed in the same manner, and except for thechanges herein noted, the construction shown in Fig. 4 is substantiallythe same as that shown in Fig. 1.

The rbeam shown in Fig. 4 is compact and rigid and is very desirable incircumstances where it is not necessary to nail or screw other memberson to the beam.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive andillustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of the inventionof which embodiments may be constructed including many modifications,without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention hereindenoted in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a metal structural member for building construction, a platehaving a plurality of spaced apertures therein, inwardly directedflanges surrounding the apertures, each of said flanges having a rightangularly directed portion, said plate 5 being bent outwardly andupwardly and bent back upon itself to provide a cover, then back toprovide a portion parallel to said cover, said last mentioned portionbeing bent to provide a flange at right angles thereto extending thelength of l the beam, said right angular directed portion being securedto said last mentioned flange by welding.

2. In a. metal structural member for building construction, a platehaving a plurality of4 spaced l5 apertures therein, inwardly directedflanges surrounding said apertures, each of said flanges having a rightangular directed portion, said plate being bent outwardly and then backupon itself to provide a top, said plate being bent back uponv itselfparallel to said top and then bent downwardly to provide a flangeextending the length of the member, said right angular directed por'-tion being secured to the last mentioned ilange by means of welding.

3. In a metal structural member for building construction, a platehaving a plurality of spaced apertures therein, inwardly directedflanges surrounding the apertures, each of said flanges having a rightangularly directed portion, said plates being bent outwardly andupwardly and bent back upon itself to provide a cover, then back toprovide a portion parallel to said cover, said last mentioned portionbeing bent to provide a flange at right angles thereto extending thelength of the beam, said right angularly directed portion being securedto said last mentioned flange.

4. In a metal structural member for building constructon, a plate havinga plurality of spaced apertures therein, inwardly directed flangessurrounding said apertures, each of said flanges having a right angulardirected portion, said plate being bent outwardly and then back uponitself to provide a top, said plate being bent back upon itself parallelto said top and then bent downwardly to provide a flange extending thelength ofthe member, said right angular directed portions being securedto the last mentioned flange.

Y5. InV a metal structural member for building construction, a platehaving a plurality of spaced apertures therein, inwardly directedflanges surrounding said apertures, each of said flanges having anangularly directed portion, the upper and lower portions of said platebeing bent over to provide respectively a top and a bottom for saidmember, said top and bottom being bent to provide spaced flangesextending the length of the member and abutting said angularly directedportions.

6. In a metal structural member for building construction, a platehaving a plurality of spaced apertures therein, inwardly directedflanges surrounding said apertures, each of said flanges having anangularly `directed portion, the upper and lower portions of said platebeing bent over to provide respectively a top and a bottom for saidmember, said top and bottom being bent to provide spaced anges extendingthe length of the member and abutting said angularly directed portions,said spaced flanges being secured to said angularly directed flanges bywelding.

ALBERT RAFTER.

